Twelve days after the containership MSC Baltic III (33,767 dwt) lost power and was driven ashore in Canada during a winter storm, the Canadian Coast Guard reports the vessel cannot be safely refloated. Weather continues to hamper the efforts of the Coast Guard and a private salvage team with the latest update reporting they are focusing on the fuel and other possible contaminants aboard.

The vessel was abandoned on February 15 after it was driven onto the rocky shoreline of western Newfoundland. A helicopter rescued the crew.

Since the 679-foot (203-meter) vessel went ashore, winter storms have continued to impact the area. The Coast Guard says teams are frequently unable to get aboard the ship and the weather is hampering some of the water operations. They are monitoring the ship from shore and the air.

At the beginning of the week, they reported that divers have confirmed that there were significant breaches or holes in the hull below the waterline. The vessel has settled firmly to the seabed and so far, they have not found significant breaks about the waterline. However, pictures have shown some deformations in the hull and the possibility of a crack.

“Given the vessel’s current condition, it cannot be safely refloated,” the Coast Guard writes in its updated issued late on February 27. “The initial focus will be on the removal of the fuel and cargo.”

Based on the urgency of the situation, the Coast Guard says it is looking at alternatives including repairing an old road and all-terrain vehicle trail that could be used to reach the remote location. They told The Telegram newspaper that the road would need upgrades to handle heavy equipment and tractor trailers. The Coast Guard is also looking at building an access point from shore to the bow of the vessel the newspaper reports.

The surveys have confirmed that there are approximately 1.7 million liters of heavy fuel oil and marine gas on board. While no pollution has been observed, there are concerns over a potential breach. One of the steps being explored is pumping the fuel to shore because it may not be possible to get a salvage vessel alongside.

MSC initially advised the Coast Guard that the vessel had approximately 470 containers aboard, over half of which were empty. The others are carrying items such as food, lumber, and paper supplies. In the latest updates, the Coast Guard said however eight containers with polymer beads (nurdles) have been marked as a priority for removal.

The Coast Guard says that there are materials aboard considered dangerous goods in shipping terms, such as the nurdles as well as flour and whiskey. Nothing aboard however is hazardous under normal conditions.

The biggest issue is the race against time to reduce the risks as the winter storms are likely to persist in the region and further batter the vessel.

Demonstrators gathered outside Maersk's headquarters in Copenhagen on Monday morning. They are protesting that the shipping company is shipping military equipment to Israel.

Police are working at the scene. Photos show hundreds of people present at the headquarters.

According to the activists, by shipping military equipment to Israel, Maersk is supporting what the press release calls Israeli genocide.

Investment in fixed assets of the railroad sector in China amounted to 43.9 billion yuan / about 6.12 billion dollars/ in January this year. According to the data of China Railways Corporation /CRC/, published on Monday.

According to the CZD data, this indicator grew by 3.7 percent in annual terms.

During the reporting period, according to the said department, a number of major projects were implemented, including the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing high-speed rail center line /CHRC/.

In 2024, fixed asset investment in the country's railroad sector totaled 850.6 billion yuan, up 11.3 percent year-on-year, the CRA data showed.

As of the end of 2024, the length of operating railroads nationwide totaled 162,000 kilometers, of which the SCR accounted for 48,000 kilometers.

Last year, the length of new railroads totaled 3,113 km, including 2,457 km of high-speed railroads.

With the lifting of the first container at the Shanghai Port on Feb 10, the Gemini Cooperation officially launches its operation at the port, said Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd.

With the lifting of the first container at the Shanghai Port on Feb 10, the Gemini Cooperation officially launched its operation at the port, said Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd.

The Gemini Cooperation, a benchmark collaboration between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, announced last year to start operation in February, according to the official website of Hapag-Lloyd.

Both companies acknowledged the positive steps towards stability but emphasized the fragility of the situation and the ongoing security risks in areas like the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Thus, both announced plans to continue routing via the Cape of Good Hope, despite ceasefire.

CMA CGM has stated that while the ceasefire is a welcome development, the safety of its seafarers, vessels, and customers’ cargo remains the top priority. As a precaution, the company will continue to use alternative routes, including the Cape of Good Hope, for the majority of its network. Adjustments may be made on a case-by-case basis as the situation evolves.

Similarly, Maersk has confirmed that its operations will also continue to route via the Cape of Good Hope due to persistent security risks in the region. The company highlighted its commitment to ensuring stability and predictability for its customers’ supply chains and noted that its East-West network, set to launch on February 1, 2025, will rely on this routing.